Construction resumes away from possible burial site

Marc Bence/for metro edmonton

Construction crews resume digging on the southern LRT expansion, near 43 Ave. and 111 St. yesterday. The construction project has been hit with continuing delays after human remains were found. While crews are working on one end of the site, work has been stopped elsewhere while an archeologist prepares a site plan.

« This was unexpected and most of our tents are in use so we are mostly trying to beg or borrow a tent. »

Kathy Mercure of the city’s transportation department

Archeological work is expected to finally begin tomorrow on the southern LRT expansion, a site where a casket and human remains were discovered more than two weeks ago.

A newly hired consultant could start supervising the dig site tomorrow once the expert draws out a plan to conduct the work, says a spokeswoman with the city’s transit department.

But that doesn’t mean that construction has completely stopped. Workers began digging yesterday, away from where the remains were found.

The unexpected find, however, left the city scrambling all last week to search for a heated tent on such short notice, says Kathy Mercure of the city’s transportation department. The tent is needed to keep important archaeological work away from the snow and cold.

"This was unexpected and most of our tents are in use so we are mostly trying to beg or borrow a tent," she said.